Position Description Community Engagement Practitioner

HR – PD – Community Engagement Practitioner Page 1 of 4 Issue Date: November 2018 Review Date: November 2020 THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

Location/s Various

Reporting to Team Leader

Direct Reports Nil

Level Band C

Date Updated November 2018

About the Role The purpose of this position is to provide culturally appropriate and responsive family relationship and other services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

Key Responsibilities

Service Delivery Guidance and Support

Assist in the assessment and intake of client needs to make client appointments, provide relevant service information and make appropriate referral to agencies such as Centrelink, health agencies and housing agencies. This includes assessing clients for psychosocial issues and trauma and managing appropriately, applying knowledge of specific historical context, trans-generational trauma and inter-generational issues affecting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.

Make recommendations to Team Leaders and Regional Managers for appropriate models of best practice and engagement with clients to provide a suite of culturally sensitive counselling, mediation and education services to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander individuals, families and communities.

Provide co-facilitation of service delivery to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander clients as appropriate to position holder’s discipline and qualifications (e.g. counselling, family dispute resolution).

Provide translation and/or interpretation services as appropriate.

Support Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander clients in numerous settings, such as at court, within the prison system, hospitals, Murri ministry, at Men’s or Women’s Groups.

Where appropriate, provide pre and post support to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander clients when they are needing to engage in legal or government processes.

In consultation with the Team Leader, liaise and provide education or guidance to the Queensland Police Service, Probations and Parole, legal representatives, government agencies, and other stakeholders.

Engage with peer support to other Community Engagement Practitionerswithin RAQ, acknowledging the challenges that these workers face when regularly interacting with community.

Community Engagement and Networking

In collaboration with internal stakeholders, incorporate Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community development principles. This may include establishing collaborative structures, linking mechanisms and referral networks between community groups, elders, and other relevant government, business and community services.

Position Description Community Engagement Practitioner

HR – PD – Community Engagement Practitioner Page 2 of 4 Issue Date: November 2018 Review Date: November 2020 THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

Community Engagement and Networking cont’d

In conjunction with the Reporting Manager and other venue employees, guide the development and implementation of documentation detailing local and regional services available to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander individuals and their families.

Maintain, demonstrate and educate others on local knowledge of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander community protocols and cultural practices.

Promote the programs and services provided by RAQ and assist in cultural introductions when requested.

Participate in the events including but not limited to: o RAQ Murri and Ailan Staff Forum o National Relationships Australia Indigenous Network (RAIN). Aboriginal &

Torres Strait Islander Workers’ networks such as WYLGNY Workers o Undertake other community engagement activities as aligned to the RAQ

Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP), e.g. participation in National Reconciliation Week, Mabo Day, Sorry Day, NAIDOC Week.

Where relevant identify potential opportunities or the need for the development of Memorandum of Understanding’s with other agencies, in consultation with the Team Leader, provide support and assistance to other agencies and their Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander clients.

Administration, Planning and Caseload

Achieve any specified organisation's targets for caseload and client contact as designated for the program.

Maintain computer based diary management system in a manner congruent with complexity of role, to enable effective and informed client bookings.

At times assist with the provision of administrative and general office duties.

Contribute to operational planning as requested by Reporting Manager.

File Management and Duty of Care

Maintain confidentiality and duty of care, including identification and assessment of DFV, child safety, self-harm or threat of harm to self or others, and other Risk Factors, and take appropriate steps as required by organisational policy and procedure.

Maintain appropriate files, case notes and Risk Management documentation as per organisational policies and procedures.

Professional Development

Demonstrate ongoing commitment to participation in supervision and professional development as per organisational policy and procedure.

Participate in cultural mentoring within the workforce where appropriate.

Where suitable opportunities are identified, present at internal or external workshops and forums, with collaboration and support from the Reporting Manager.

Other Organisational Responsibilities

Adhere to all organisational policies, procedures, standards and practices.

Act only in ways that advance RAQ objectives, values and reputation.

Meet relevant legislative and funding requirements.

Other duties, consistent with skills and experience, as directed by the reporting manager.

Position Description Community Engagement Practitioner

HR – PD – Community Engagement Practitioner Page 3 of 4 Issue Date: November 2018 Review Date: November 2020 THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

Core Competencies

Business Acumen Applies knowledge of the business and the industry to advance the organisation's goals.

Inspires Others Creates a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organisation achieve its objectives.

Service Excellence Builds strong client relationships and delivers client-centric solutions. Seeks ways to improve outcomes for clients as consistent with RAQ’s Mission, Vision and Values.

Professionalism Gains the confidence and trust of others through honesty, integrity, and authenticity.

Inclusion Interacts with all stakeholders in ways that demonstrate respect of social and cultural differences, and a commitment to challenging attendant social inequities.

About You To be successful in this position you will have:

Required Highly Desired

Qualifications

Diploma of Counselling, Mental Health Community Education or Case Management.

Possession of a current driver’s licence (open).

Undergraduate tertiary qualifications in the social/behavioural sciences, education or law.

Completion of Indigenous studies qualification.

Qualifications cont’d

Please Note: RAQ recognise the structural dissonance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders to be able to enroll and engage with university studies, as indicated by current statistics. In the interest of Closing the Gap and as per our Reconciliation Action Plan to recruit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and develop our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce, a Diploma level qualification rather than an Undergraduate tertiary qualification will be accepted. Ongoing professional development and support will then be provided by RAQ.

Experience Demonstrated experience working with and advocating for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in community services and adjacent sectors (e.g. health, law) in a variety of settings, for example individuals, couples, children, young people, families and communities.

Experience working within a clinical role such as counselling, case management or mediation.

Knowledge

Knowledge of relevant legislation and regulations relating to child protection, domestic and family violence.

Underpinning knowledge and understanding of a range of issues impacting Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Peoples such as deaths in custody, Closing the Gap, Stolen Generation and trans-generational trauma.

An understanding of culturally appropriate adult learning principles.

Position Description Community Engagement Practitioner

HR – PD – Community Engagement Practitioner Page 4 of 4 Issue Date: November 2018 Review Date: November 2020 THIS DOCUMENT IS UNCONTROLLED WHEN PRINTED

Knowledge cont’d

An understanding of how to deliver communication education, information and awareness programs to groups.

Knowledge of basic counselling therapeutic models and pathways.

Skills

Demonstrated ability to assess client immediate and long-term needs and identify appropriate referral or intervention pathways.

Highly developed time management and organisational skills.

Highly developed interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.

Demonstrated competency in using computer applications.

It should be noted that Position Descriptions are under constant review and may be changed

at any time.